Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during April 2021]

Then Noah sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. But the dove could find nowhere to perch because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark. Genesis 8 v8-9 [NIVUK]

In 1769 a London newspaper linked the concept of April Fools’ errands with the actions of Noah, in that he sent the dove out from the ark prematurely, before the waters had subsided and that her mission was pointless. The article claimed that the event took place on the first of April, a claim which does somewhat undermine the credibility of the story. But enough of foolery!

In Christian denominations that follow the Anglo-Catholic traditions today is celebrated as Maundy Thursday, often regarded as one of the holy days of Easter. Eastern Orthodox churches use a different calendar which usually recognises an alternative date and so some of us get to celebrate Eastern twice each year.

So, what is the significance of Maundy Thursday?
Maundy Thursday is a celebration of the events recorded in the Gospels, when Jesus held his last supper with his disciples prior to his crucifixion. In the account that John gives of that event, he describes how Jesus took a bowl of water and proceeded to wash the disciples’ feet. It was an act that normally performed by a servant but Jesus used it to demonstrated his humility and willingness to serve his disciples.

Some denominations continue to replicate the washing of feet as part of the preparations for Easter. Often this is performed by the bishops of the denomination washing the feet of a representative selection of parishioners. Elsewhere, the washing of feet is offered in conjunction with the observance of Holy Communion.

Perhaps this is a suitable moment to pause to remember and thank those who perform essential services such as washing the feet of people who are unable to do it for themselves. Not a pleasant task but an excellent opportunity to follow our Lord’s example.

The washing of feet was a prelude to the Passover Supper which Jesus and his disciples celebrated together. It is interesting that the Old Testament instructions for the Passover indicated that it should be a family event – was Jesus reinforcing his earlier observation that his disciples were now his family? It was during this meal that Jesus took some bread and some wine and instituted the celebration of Holy Communion, an act of remembrance which will continue until Jesus returns.

It is significant that the gospel writers tells us that Judas Iscariot was present at that meal but yet he proceeded with his plan to betray Jesus. This demonstrates that is not sufficient to merely participate in the rituals of faith; a change of heart is required.

In some places Maundy Thursday is recognised as an opportunity to give alms or special gifts to the poor; this practice itself is derived from the command that Jesus gave to his disciples:

A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
[John 13 v34-35 NIVUK]

Given that it is All Fools’ day, perhaps it is appropriate to end with a quote from a more recent disciple who was martyred whilst obeying that command:

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot, 1927–1956

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Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

[This is one in a series of mid-week devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during March 2021]

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! that calls me from a world of care,
and bids me at my Father’s throne make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief,
and oft escaped the tempter’s snare by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
[William Walford, 1845]

It is often the case that history is written by the victors. That applies not only to the records of what they have achieved but it also sets the scene for what might follow. It has been suggested that heavy-handed treatment of the losers at the end of the first world war sowed the seeds of the second. Perhaps that is why Jesus recommended that we should feed our enemies.

In the American civil war, history tells us that the Union side (the eventual victors) were the ‘goodies’ and the Confederates were the ‘baddies’. It can come as a surprise that there are Godly men amongst the forces that are fighting for what we might consider to be the wrong side.

Edward Bounds was a chaplain on the Confederate side. He was also a man who believed passionately in the necessity and power of prayer, and wrote extensively on the subject. He advanced the idea that God is powerless without the prayers of His people; it is our prayers that permit or even instruct God to act.

Do we agree? If so, are we guilty of restricting God because our prayers are too infrequent, too insincere, too unimaginative? Perhaps it is the very powerfulness of prayer that makes us uncomfortable and hesitant to explore its potential. Like a bonfire, we want to keep it small and under control, but bonfires like that tend to generate more smoke than heat.

In another parallel with a bonfire, even a single ember can keep it alight and offer the potential for re-ignition but once the fire has gone out it is much more difficult to restart. So it is with prayer, once we cease to maintain the practice then it becomes more difficult to re-establish it.

In a time of restricted movements and church at a distance one of the casualties has been collective prayer. At the same time, many of us have had to set aside some of those activities that previously occupied us. How are you making use of the time that was spent commuting, at the gym or developing your hobbies? Those of us who are time-rich could use this time pray for those who find themselves busier or in more difficult circumstances than before. Indeed, maybe the reason why so many saintly Christians live beyond their ‘three-score and ten’ is so that they can pray for their fellow pilgrims.

The apostle Paul offered this advice:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” [1 Thessalonians 5 v16-18 NKJV]

Prayer is the way in which we can access God’s resources but, according to Edward Bounds, it works the other way round too.

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Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during March 2021]

In what is often called the rich tapestry of life we find threads of different types and colours; some fine, some course, some bright, some dull. If we concentrate solely on the fine bright threads then we miss their context; the dark colours are essential to showing the complete picture. The brightness of a tropical beach is complemented by the dark palms alongside, bright flowers grow in dark soil, the still small voice loses its impact without the thunderstorm as its herald.

Throughout history people have paid greater attention to the bright and golden whilst disregarding the more mundane essentials. It did not take the Israelites very long to make two golden calves whist Moses was otherwise occupied. Gideon did something similar with the spoils of war, albeit with a nobler intention, and it too led to the Israelites diverting from the worship of the true God.

In 1 Samuel ch 19 we read of an incident when king Saul sent some of his henchmen to kill David. His wife helped him to escape and then we read that she placed an idol with a goat-hair wig in David’s bed and claimed that he was ill. The account does not explain why David had an idol in his house but it does suggest that even the most Godly people are at risk of loosening their focus on Him.

Of course, that was long ago and far away. As we endeavour to worship God in the New Testament style, surely we are not prone to the same temptations. On the contrary, we do well to remember that two of the letters to the churches in Revelation contain warnings about idols, showing that those who follow Jesus are not immune to temptation.

Magnificent buildings, fine works of art, great music have been created with the declared intention to glorify God. In times of widespread illiteracy, icons have been used to illustrate Bible stories and the achievements of our predecessors in the faith. These things can point us to God but there is the risk of venerating the icon to the point where the icon itself becomes the idol.

But idols are not necessarily in the form that we associate with idols. For us, an idol is anything that detracts from the worship of God, even if those things are otherwise noble and of good report. There is no need to list them here – each person’s list will be different. Anything that demands a disproportionate amount of our time, our money or our devotion carries the risk of becoming an idol.

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. [1 John 5 v21 NIVUK]

So, how do we tackle the threat of idols? In 1772 William Cowper penned these well-known lines:

The dearest idol I have known, whate’er that idol be,
help me to tear it from Thy throne and worship only Thee.

These words are not just a couplet from a hymn, but rather they can be a simple prayer asking God himself to help us. The first and most difficult step is to recognise our own vulnerability. You might find it appropriate to mention a specific object or activity within the context of the prayer, or or simply ask God if there is anything that He wants to talk about.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. [1 John 5 v14 NIVUK]

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Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 21/Mar/2021]

I had a vision last week in which I was sitting on a bench on the banks of a river in spate. It was an exciting sight at first, but then I saw more and more church pews, chairs, a pulpit, even Bibles, being washed downstream past me. I am ashamed to admit my first feeling was one of delight. I’ve too long and too openly wanted to see the end of man-made trappings of church.

But then I recognised familiar furniture and other bits from our HBC building in the flotsam! There was a slight earth tremor and the bench beneath me began to slide down the river bank. I was no longer a bemused observer. This was real, I was part of it, and I was helpless!

It took me a few days to process this experience. It all felt terrible, devastating, until I looked upstream!

Upstream, from the source of the river, came a powerful flow of pure, clear, life-giving water! This vision had not only been about the end of things familiar, it was the beginning of something new. Something not to be regretted but welcomed!

God was doing a NEW THING!! Can we see It?

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.